A pre-construction archaeology dig meant to prepare a critical segment of the reconstructed Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris has led to the discovery of a lead sarcophagus and several small tombs according to an announcement from the French Ministry of Culture.

The discovery was unearthed directly beneath the 859-year-old cathedral’s transept floor and is thought to contain the remains of a key religious figure dating to the 14th century, which is around the time when Notre Dame’s apse was constructed.

The findings were of “remarkable scientific quality” according to France’s culture minister Roselyne Bachelot. Workers who made the discovery were preparing to install scaffolding at the location for the soon-to-begin historically-accurate re-creation of the church’s spire, which has been promised by the Macron government to be completed in time for the 2024 Olympics.

Several tombs and a leaden sarcophagus likely dating from the 14th century have been uncovered by archaeologists at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris as work continues on the building’s reconstruction after its devastating 2019 fire. https://t.co/KsAsyeVCs5 pic.twitter.com/eny4JIZnJr
— Ticia Verveer (@ticiaverveer) March 16, 2022

Archaeologists had to use a tiny endoscopic camera to verify certain identifying elements of the remains and were also able to uncover what appeared to be the remnants of several small sculptures in an area where the nave and transept intersect. A heating system reported to be leftover from the early 19th century was also discovered. The team now has until March 25th to conclude the excavation before construction resumes again.